Labuan Bajo, E Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA) - Acting president director of the Labuan Bajo Flores Authority Implementing Agency (BPOLBF), Frans Teguh, has said that a recent familiarization trip (Famtrip) and tabletop meeting with travel agents could help increase tourist visits to the area.

"It is an opportunity to boost foreign tourist visits," he said in a statement received here on Saturday.

The Famtrip and tabletop meeting were held in collaboration with national airline carrier Garuda Indonesia.

The activity brought together South Korean travel agents and tour operators with seven of them acting as buyers and 12 as sellers or tourism entrepreneurs in Labuan Bajo.

Teguh informed that during the meeting, the buyers met potential partners or sellers as well as got to see and get a firsthand experience of the top attractions in Labuan Bajo.

"Hopefully, the experience of these buyers (in Labuan Bajo) can attract the Korean market," he said.

The Famtrip activity is expected to open opportunities and help promote Labuan Bajo tour packages in the South Korean market, he added.

He pointed out that in 2023, South Korea ranked eighth out of 10 countries contributing the most tourists to Indonesia.

This year, Indonesia is targeting to attract 344,752 South Korean tourists, an increase of 43.58 percent from the previous year's target of 194,500.

"This number of tourists is expected to be distributed between Labuan Bajo and other Flores islands," Teguh said.

General manager, Garuda Indonesia - Labuan Bajo, Riki Kemalaputra, said that travel agents can play an essential role in establishing and maintaining good cooperation to improve services and business opportunities in the future.

"Hopefully, this Famtrip can result in good networking," he added.

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